LADY K.--I say you DO take care of Mr. Bonnington, Mrs. Bonnington, my dear creature! and that is why you can't attend to Horace. And as he is of a very easy temper--except sometimes with his poor Arabella's mother--he allows all his tradesmen to cheat him, all his servants to cheat him, Howell to be rude to everybody--to me amongst other people, and why not to my servant Bulkeley, with whom Lord Toddleby's groom of the chambers gave me the very highest character. MRS. B.--I'm surprised that noblemen HAVE grooms in their chambers. I should think they were much better in the stables. I am sure I always think so when we dine with Doctor Clinker. His man does bring such a smell of the stable with him. LADY K.--He! he! you mistake, my dearest creature! Your poor mother mistakes, my good Horace. You have lived in a quiet and most respectable sphere--but not--not-- MRS. B.--Not what, Lady Kicklebury? We have lived at Richmond twenty years--in my late husband's time--when we saw a great deal of company, and when this dear Horace was a dear boy at Westminster School. And we have PAID for everything we have had for twenty years, and we have owed not a penny to any TRADESMAN, though we mayn't have had POWDERED FOOTMEN SIX FEET HIGH, who were impertinent to all the maids in the place--Don't! I WILL speak, Horace--but servants who loved us, and who lived in our families. MILLIKEN.--Mamma, now, my dear, good old mother! I am sure Lady Kicklebury meant no harm. LADY K.--Me! my dear Horace! harm! What harm could I mean? MILLIKEN.--Come! let us have a game at whist. Touchit, will you make a fourth? They go on so every night almost. Ain't it a pity, now? TOUCHIT.--Miss Prior generally plays, doesn't she? MILLIKEN.--And a very good player, too. But I thought you might like it. TOUCHIT.--Well, not exactly. I don't like sixpenny points, Horace, or quarrelling with old dragons about the odd trick. I will go and smoke a cigar on the terrace, and contemplate the silver Thames, the darkling woods, the starry hosts of heaven. I--I like smoking better than playing whist. [MILLIKEN rings bell.] MILLIKEN.--Ah, George! you're not fit for domestic felicity. TOUCHIT.--No, not exactly. HOWELL enters. MILLIKEN.--Lights and a whist-table. Oh, I see you bring 'em. You know everything I want. He knows everything I want, Howell does. Let us cut. Miss Prior, you and I are partners! ACT II. SCENE.--As before. LADY K.--Don't smoke, you naughty boy. I don't like it. Besides, it will encourage your brother-in-law to smoke. CLARENCE K.--Anything to oblige you, I'm sure. But can't do without it, mother; it's good for my health. When I was in the Plungers, our doctor used to say, "You ought never to smoke more than eight cigars a day"--an order, you know, to do it--don't you see? LADY K.--Ah, my child! I am very glad you are not with those unfortunate people in the East.